Rail and flange lubricator



3 Sheets-Sheet l s. E. BATES RAIL AND FLANGE LUBRICATOR Original FiledMay 14, 1928 w ns 4 .Z 1w/M 5 1,4 J @5 4N E h Q 1 n MMU M.

Jan. 14, 1936.

Jan. 14, 1936. s. E. BATES RAIL AND FLANGE LUBRICATOR Original Filed May14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (fin/ven W' .SzkwergEa/S Patented Jan. 14,1936 UNITED STATES FATEN'` OFFIQE RAIL AND FLANGE LUBRICATOR corporationof Illinois Application May 14, 1928, Serial No. 277,524 Renewed April27, 1934 16 Claims.

My invention relates to lubricating devices and lhas a special relationto devices for lubricating rails and car wheel flanges of railroadequipment. One of the great difficulties in railroad engineering hasbeen caused by the fact that rails are particularly susceptible to wearat curves, due to the enormous lateral thrust thereon by car wheelflanges as a result of centrifugal force generated in traversing thecurves. This thrust is, of course, applied on the inner side of the railface, on which side the flange of the car wheel bears, and the wear isso great that curve rails must' frequently be replaced to avoidderailing of cars. Attempts have been made in the past to solve thisdifculty by manually greasing the rails at the points oi greatest wear,but, 0bviously this is an expensive and unsatisfactory procedure. Insome instances the Wheels of the locomotive or motor car have beensprayed with oil, but this has not been entirely satisfactory.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to pro'- vide a mechanicallubricator adapted to be attached to a rail and operable by the passageof a car wheel thereover to apply lubricant to the rail at the desiredpoint or points. A further object is to provide such a device which willdistribute the lubricant along the rail at a plurality of points and soeject it that it will be picked up by a car wheel for furtherdistribution on the rail and wheel. A still further object is to providesuch a device which will transmit the force of the car wheel to thelubricant feeder in such a manner that, after all lubricant has beenejected, on further contact of a car wheel with the device, no forcewill be transmitted to the feeder, and hence no damage will be causedtothe apparatus. Another object is to provide such a device which iseasily iilled and re-flled with lubricant, and which is rugged inconstruction and simple in operation and may readily be applied to arail without the necessity of any reconstruction thereof or requiringtemporary removal of the rail. Many other objects and advantages of theconstruction herein shown and described will be-obvious to those skilledin the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementand combination of parts herein shown and described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference cha acters indicate like orcorresponding parts:

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a device illustrating a preferredembodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the deVCe ShQWll in Fig. 1;V showing theinside of a rail with the device attached;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed section taken on an en- 5 larged scale, showing theparts between lines i o Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar detail on an enlarged scale showing the partsbetween lines 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 6 5 ofFig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 1 1 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a detail view in elevation upon an enlarged scale taken online 8 8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 9 9 ofFig. 2; and

Fig. i0 is a sectional View taken on line iB IU of Fig. 9.

A device embodying my invention is shown as applied to a rail iii.Suitable clamps Il, which are fastened to the base of the rail by boltsand nuts or other suitable means, make a rigid connection therewith tosupport a tubular grease container l2. This container includes acylindrical casing I3 closed at its ends by means of caps I4, ifi whichare secured in any suitable manner. Passing through the tubularcontainer is a spindle l5, oppositely threaded from the center to itsopposite ends, on which are mounted a pair of grease ejectors orplungers i6, I6. A plurality of rods l'i pass through the tubularcontainer and the grease ejectors and 'may be secured in the caps bynuts il' and hold the caps in place. As shown clearly in Fig. 4, thegrease ejectors each comprise a metallic member iS which is threaded onthe central spindle l5. Attached to the inner faces of each of themetallic members by means of a ring i9 is a plunger 2t of leather orother suitable material. Packing glands 2l are threaded into themetallic members to provide for the passage of the rods Il and toprevent leakage of lubricant.

On one end of the spindle l5 outside of the tubular container (see Fig.5) is rigidly mounted, say by means of a pin or set screw 22, aretaining ring 23, and frictionally mounted on the spindle adjacent theretaining ring are a ratchet 24 and a retaining ring 25, these threerings being separated by washers 23a and 23h. Bearing against the ring25 is a coil spring 26 which is retained on the spindle by means of anut 21.

The tubular container l2 is held in place by means of clamping rings 28which are fastened to the rail by the clamps l l described above.

Intermediate the ends of the tubular container, preferably at thecenter, is a member 2S (seen in section in Fig. 7) which has openings 3Sand 3l at the top and side respectively to permit the convenientintroduction of grease into the container. These openings may be closedby screw caps. An orice 32 is provided at the bottom of the member whichcommunicates with a conduit 33 for carrying grease from the container tothe distributing means to be described later. Pref erably, an additionalclamp is provided for securing the conduit 33 to the rail.

Pivotally mounted on the rail at 34 is a lever 35 (see Figs. l, 6 and 8)carrying near the end opposite its pivot a tread 36 which lies parallelto and in close proximity to the upper face of the rail. Pivoted at 37to an extension of the tread is a link 38 pivoted at 39 to a lever 45,one end of which is formed with a yoke which loosely engages the rings23 and 25 and has attached thereto a paWl 4I. This pawl carries a toothat its end which engages the teeth on the ratchet 24. Fastened to thelower side of the tread 36 and retained by a bolt and nut or othersuitable means is a coil spring 42 which is retained at its other end bya suitable bracket 43 mount-ed on the rail.

The conduit 33, described above, leads from the tubular container I2,passing under the rail, to a distributor indicated generally at 44 whichis mounted by suitable brackets 45 on the inner side of the rail. Asclearly shown in Figs. 2, 9 and 10, the distributor comprises a tube 46which extends along the rail and provides a main passage for thelubricant, its ends being closed by caps. Prcerably cast integrally withthe tube is a pair of spaced lugs 41 and 41. Seated between the lugs areopposing plates 48 and 49 and 48 and 4S', one of which plates may havevertical slots 5S at certain desired intervals which form branch ductsleading from the main lubricant duct of thV tube 46 to the edge of theplate, said plates constituting a distributing bar for distributinglubricant along the side face of the rail head near the upper edgethereof.

The plates may be maintained rigidly in place by bolts and nutsindicated at 5I. A suitable oneway valve indicated at 52 (Fig. 7) may beprovided to regulate the direction of flow of lubricant into thedistributor.

From the above description, it is believed that the operation of thedevice will be clearly apparent. Lubricant may be introduced into thecontainer I2 through either one of the apertures 3B or 3! after theplungers have been adjusted at the ends of the spindle. When a car wheelpasses along the rail above the lubricating device, the tread of thewheel will depress the tread 36 of the lever 35 as shown in Fig. 6. Thelever will act through the link 38 to rotate the lever 4D and actuatethe paWl 4! which, being engaged in the ratchet 24 frictionally mountedon the spindle iii will rotate the spindle. The spindle being threadedWithin the ejectors I5, i6' Will cause these ejectors to move toward thecenter of the container. The plungers will accordingly exert pressure onthe lubricant in the container, forcing it out through the orifice 32,the conduit 33, and valve 52, into the distributor, by means of which itwill be extruded between the plates 48 and 49 through the slotsObviously, the flange of the car Wheel, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, willreadily pick up the lubricant ejected along the side of the rail faceand aid in distributing it.

It will be apparent that various elements may be adjusted so as tocontrol the amount of lubricant which is to be ejected. Thus thedistance which the tread 35 projects above the track may be varied, asWell as the number of threads to the inch on the spindle I5 and theadjustment of the pawl and ratchet.

It will also be apparent that when all of the lubricant has beendischarged from the container and the ejectors have moved to theirlimits near the center of the container, continued actuation of thelever by wheels passing thereover will result in no damage to theapparatus. In view of the frictional engagement of the ratchet 24, thisratchet Will simply slip on the spindle and the device Will remainfunctionally inoperative.

It Will be particularly noted that the device may be readily appliedadjacent to any rail without requiring rails of special construction orspecial Work on the rails at the time of installation of the device.Likewise, it is not necessary to drill through the rails, the dischargeports for the lubricant being entirely without the confines of the rail.The lubricant is applied at the desired points and in the requiredquantity. The lubricant is not automatically and continuously fed outWhile a train may be standing over the device, but only fed out Whilethe train is moving, and at that time the feeding is positive anddirect. Likewise, the port openings are so disposed that the wheeltreads do not come into contact ,"f

thereat, thereby avoiding any possibility of upsetting the materialabout the openings or otherwise partially closing them by forcing dirt,cinders or foreign matter into the ports.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modiiications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A rail lubricating device comprising a container, means movablelongitudinally Within said container from opposite ends toward thecenter for ejecting grease therefrom, means actuated by a car wheelmoving along the rail for actuating the last mentioned means, and anorice in said container intermediate its ends.

2. A rail lubricating device comprising a container, means movablelongitudinally within said container from opposite ends toward thecenter for ejecting grease therefrom, means actuable by a car wheelmoving along the rail for actuating said ejecting means, means forguiding said ejecting means, and an orifice in said containerintermediate of its ends.

3. A rail lubricating device comprising a container, means movablelongitudinally within said container from opposite ends toward thecenter for ejecting grease therefrom, reciprocating means actuable by acar Wheel moving along the rail for actuating said ejecting means, andan orifice in said container intermediate of its ends.

4. A rail lubricating device comprising a container, means movablelongitudinally within said container from opposite ends toward thecenter for ejecting grease therefrom, means for guiding said ejectingmeans, reciprocating means for actuating said ejecting means actuable bya car wheel moving along the rail, and an orice in said containerintermediate of its ends.

5. In combination with a rail lubricator of the class described, afeeding device comprising an elongated reservoir having spacedlongitudinal flanges, and means disposed betwen said flanges fordistributing lubricant along the surface of a rail.

6. In combination with a rail lubricator of the class described, afeeding device comprising an elongated reservoir having spacedlongitudinal flanges, and a pair of grease distributing plates seatedbetween said flanges.

'7. In combination with a rail lubricator of the class described, afeeding device comprising an elongated barrel having longitudinalflanges ex.- tending therefrom, and a pair of grease-distributing platesseated within said flanges, one of said plates being apertured to permitthe extrusion of grease from said barrel.

8. In combination with a rail lubricator of the class described, afeeding device comprising an elongated barrel having longitudinalflanges extending therefrom, and a pair of grease-distributing platesseated within said flanges, one of said plates being apertured to permitthe extrusion of grease from said barrel, the external ends of saidplates having beveled edges lying in the same p-lane.

9. In a rail lubricator of the class described, a lubricant distributingmember adapted to be positioned longitudinally of a rail at the sidethereof, said member comprising a portion having a main longitudinallyextending lubricant conduit, and an upwardly projecting flange portionadapted to extend alongside the rail head beneath the car wheel flange,said flange portion being downwardly and outwardly beveled on its outerside, there being a plurality of spaced outlet openings in the beveledflange portion and branch passages leading from the main conduit to theseveral outlet openings,

l0. In a rail lubricator, a relatively long lubricant distributingmember positioned at one side of the rail, an operating member adaptedto be actuated by a passing car wheel and positioned at the oppositeside of the rail, a lubricant reservoir and means for forcing lubricanttherefrom, and clamp devices spaced with relation to each otherlongitudinally of the rail and embracing the base portion thereof forsupporting all of the parts from the rail; one of said clamp devicesincluding a conduit for conducting the lubricant from the reservoir tothe distributing member.

11. In a rail lubricating device of the character described, a lubricantdistributor positioned at one side of the rail comprising a lubricantdistributing bar positioned along the side face of the rail head so thatthe inner face of said bar extends in substantially the same plane asthe said side face of the rail head, there being a plurality oflubricant discharge ducts in said bar which extend to the upper edgethereof and the said distributor being provided also with a portionhaving a main lubricant supply passage extending longitudinally of therail and connecting the several lubricant discharge ducts, and means forsupplying lubricant to said main lubricant supply passage. n 12. In arail lubricating device of the class described, a lubricant distributorpositioned at one side of the rail and including means extending 5longitudinally of the rail in the fishing space beneath the rail headand provided with a main lubricant duct, said means having a surfaceextending in the plane of the adjacent side face of the rail head, and alubricant distributing bar l0 secured against said surface; the said barhaving lubricant branch ducts leading from said main duct to the upperedge portion of said bar for discharging lubricant against the side faceof the rail head. l5

13. In a rail lubricator of the character described, a lubricantdistributor positioned at one side of the rail comprising a lubricantdistributing bar having a beveled upper edge and a plurality oflubricant discharge ducts extending 20 from the lower portion of saidbar to the beveled upper edge thereof and means for supporting the barflat against the side face of the rail head comprising a memberextending longitudinally of the rail in the space between the rail headand the base flange of the rail and provided with a lubricant supplyduct extending longitudinally of the rail in communication with saiddischarge ducts, said member having a flat surface extending insubstantially the same plane as the side face of the rail head, the saidiiat surface of the longitudinally extending member serving to maintainthe said distributing bar flat against the side face of the rail head,and means for forcing lubricant through said supply and discharge ducts,

14. In a rail lubricator the combination of a lubricant distributorformed with a main duct for lubricant extending lengthwise of the railand comprising a distributing bar which bears against the side face ofthe rail head and is formed with a plurality of branch ducts leadingfrom the main duct to the upper edge of the bar, and means for forcinglubricant through the main and branch ducts.

l5. In a rail lubricator the combination of a lubricant distributorformed with a main duct for lubricant extending lengthwise of the railand comprising a distributing bar which bears against the side face ofthe rail head and is 50 formed at intervals with a plurality of branchducts leading from the main duct to the upper edge of the bar, and meansfor forcing lubricant through said main and branch ducts.

16. In a rail lubricator the combination of a lubricant distributorformed with a lubricant space extending lengthwise of the rail andcomprising a distributing bar which bears against the side face of therail head and is formed with a plurality of distributing ducts leadingfrom the lubricant space to the upper edge portion of said distributingbar, and means for forcing lubricant into said space and through saidducts.

SIDNEY E. BATES.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,027,414. January 3.4, 1956.

SIDNEY E. BATES.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring Correction as follows: Page 2,second column, line 7245, claim 4, strike out the words "actuable by acar wheel moving along the rail" and insert the same after "means"second occurrence, in line 7l, same claim; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the record of the oase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of February, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting; Commissioner of Patents.

